Marinette Marine Corp. said it is holding open 40 positions in its training program for welders and other shipyard jobs, hoping to attract recent grads from the area around Marinette and nearby Menominee, Mich.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the company has reached out to nine schools, but so far only seven recent graduates have applied for the training, which begins in July.

A typical employee at the shipyard can earn $30,000 to $40,000 a year. Some earn more than $60,000 with overtime.

Yet, like many companies, Marinette Marine is struggling to persuade people to enter the skilled trades, including welding, pipe fitting and electrical work.

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